New York Giants Official Website

OCTOBER 29, 2009

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - The Giants will attempt to break their two-game losing streak Sunday when they face the Philadelphia Eagles in Lincoln Financial Field. After opening the season with five consecutive victories, the Giants have lost back-to-back games to New Orleans and Arizona. Philadelphia defeated Washington Monday night, 27-17, to improve to 4-2. The Giants lead the regular season series, 79-67-2, and the postseason series is tied, 2-2. Last season, each team won on the other's home field, but the Eagles also defeated the Giants in an NFC Divisional Playoff Game. The Giants have won their last four regular season games in Philadelphia.

Offense

The Eagles are 17th in the NFL in offense with an average of 336.7 yards a game. They are 18th in rushing (103.7) and 15th in passing (233.0). However, the Eagles are seventh in the league in scoring, averaging 27.2 points per game. They have scored at least 22 points in every game but one. Philadelphia leads the NFL with a plus-11 turnover differential and has only seven turnovers. The Eagles use a lot of personnel groups and pre-snap shifting in an effort to create matchup advantages.

Philadelphia has started games well, scoring three times and totaling 247 yards on 19 plays (13-yard average) on first possessions this season.

Donovan McNabb is returning to peak physical condition after breaking a rib in the season opener. He has thrown for six touchdowns and only one interception this season. At Washington, he became one of just four players in NFL history to have at least 30,000 passing yards (30,088), 200 touchdown passes, 3,000 rushing yards (3,169) and 20 rushing touchdowns (27). The others are Hall of Famers John Elway, Fran Tarkenton and Steve Young.

Michael Vick is still knocking off the rust after missing the previous two seasons. He has participated in 27 snaps in four games and thrown six passes (completing two) and run nine times for 22 yards. Vick and McNabb have been on the field at the same time just once, two weeks ago in Oakland. Kevin Kolb became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for more than 300 yards in each of his first two starts when he replaced McNabb. Kolb was NFC Offensive Player of the Week after his 24-for-34, 327-yard outing vs. Kansas City, but he hasn't played since. He was the third quarterback in Washington.

Brian Westbrook remains one of the NFL's most gifted running backs, but he's had limited playing time this year as the Eagles attempt to keep him fresh for the entire year. Westbrook has not had more than 14 touches in any game this season, though he is averaging 4.8 yards per carry and has 17 receptions. But Westbrook suffered a concussion vs. Washington and the Eagles are saying his availability will be a game-time decision. Rookie LeSean McCoy leads Philly with 212 rushing yards on 59 carries. He is the quarterback on 90 percent of the Eagles' Wildcat snaps. McCoy is an elusive back with good balance, the ability to make sudden stops and starts and a knack for spinning off hits. Eldra Buckley, who spent two seasons on the San Diego Chargers' practice squad, is a nifty third down back and special teams player. The Eagles this week signed running back P.J. Hill off New Orleans' practice squad.

Leonard Weaver, a free agent acquisition from Seattle, has significantly upgraded the Eagles at fullback. He's a good blocker, both when leading a runner and on blitz pickup, and he has outstanding receiving skills.

Second-year pro DeSean Jackson has become one of the NFL's most dangerous receivers. He has 21 catches for 423 yards, a 20.1-yard average, and three touchdowns, plus 115 yards on seven rushing attempts, a 16.4-yard average. On Monday, he scored on a 67-yard run and a 57-yard reception to become only the second player in team history to have a rushing and receiving touchdown of 50-plus yards in the same game. All five of Jackson's touchdowns this season have covered more than 50 yards (85-yard punt return, 71-yard reception, 64-yard reception, 67-yard rush and 57-yard reception). But he is no longer just a vertical threat and does a good job after catching the ball.

Kevin Curtis began the season as the Eagles' other starting wideout, but he is sidelined indefinitely with a knee injury. Rookie Jeremy Maclin has taken his place in the lineup. Maclin is both a smooth route runner and a deep threat who will do the dirty work in the middle of the field. Jason Avant is a hard-nosed chain mover and Reggie Brown has gotten more playing time in Curtis' absence.

Philadelphia has just two tight ends on its roster. Brent Celek, who has become one of the NFL's elite tight ends, is the team's leading receiver with 33 catches. He aligns all over the formation and has a great feel for the pass game. Celek constantly finds voids in the middle of the defense. Alex Smith is also an athletic tight end with good hands. The Eagles do not have a big blocking tight end, one reason they often pass in short yardage situations.

Injuries have caused the Eagles to reshuffle their offensive line, which is still a solid group. Two-time Pro Bowl right guard Shawn Andrews is on injured reserve with a back injury. His brother, Stacy, is still not 100 percent after undergoing surgery to repair his ACL last year. He played right guard late in the Washington game.

Left tackle Jason Peters is a Pro Bowler the Eagles obtained in a trade with Buffalo. Athletic and powerful, he is arguably the premier player at his position in the league. Right tackle Winston Justice has improved considerably since Osi Umenyiora victimized him for six sacks two years ago. Center Jamaal Jackson, who has started 69 consecutive games, is a strong anchor in the middle of the line. Todd Herremans returned to his familiar spot at left guard vs. the Redskins after missing the first five games with a foot injury. Nick Cole, who had taken his place, moved to right guard for Max-Jean Gilles.

Defense

The Eagles have a new coordinator this season in Sean McDermott. He replaced the legendary Jim Johnson, who died of cancer on July 28. Philly's defense is even more aggressive under McDermott than it was when Johnson called the signals. They're pressuring the quarterback from anywhere on the field. Philadelphia's defense is ranked seventh in the NFL, allowing 287.0 yards per game. The Eagles are 11th against the run (96.8) and ninth vs. the pass (190.2). Philadelphia is 12th in scoring defense, giving up 19.3 points a game. But that is somewhat misleading, because five of their six opponents scored 17 or fewer points. But New Orleans scored 48 points against the Eagles, just as the Saints did against the Giants. Philadelphia has an NFL-best 18 takeaways.

The defense is powered by a defensive line that is so deep the Eagles sometimes rotate the entire unit instead of individual players. Right end Trent Cole was a Pro Bowler in 2007. He leads the team with 6.5 sacks, including a half-sack in every game this season and two Monday night. He is a smart, relentless player who is in every defensive alignment. On the left side, Victor Abiamiri will miss his second straight game with a knee injury and will again be replaced by Juqua Parker, a nine-year veteran with good pass rush ability. Inside, Mike Patterson is a good run defender who comes out in the sub defenses, while Brodrick Bunkley is power pass rusher. Former starter Darren Howard is now a productive reserve with a variety of pass rush moves. Chris Clemons plays in the nickel and dime defenses.  Like the Giants, Philadelphia sometimes employs a four-end nickel package up front. The Eagles sometimes use a three-man front with Parker, Howard and Cole.

Will Witherspoon was acquired in a trade last week with St. Louis and immediately installed as the starting middle linebacker - where Stewart Bradley and Omar Gaither suffered season-ending injuries and Joe Mays and Jeremiah Trotter didn't pan out. Witherspoon had a big debut at Washington with eight tackles (six solo), a sack and an interception he returned nine yards for a touchdown. He is an athletic linebacker with range who has previously played on both the strong and weak sides. Witherspoon can cover tight ends and backs one-on-one. Weakside backer Akeem Jordan is a high-motor competitor who is the group's most frequent blitzer. He leads the team with 49 tackles (25 solo). On the strong side, Chris Gocong is a strong run defender who often knocks out the lead blocker so a teammate can get to the ballcarrier. Trotter contributes on first down and in short-yardage situations.

The Eagles no longer have safety Brian Dawkins, now playing in Denver, but they still have an outstanding secondary, although safety Macho Harris (ankle) and cornerback Sheldon Brown (quad/hand), Assante Samuel (calf) and Dimitri Patterson (quad/finger) have all had medical issues.

Samuel is an instinctive player with who has six fourth-quarter interceptions in close games since 2003. He leads the team with four picks this season. Brown is Philadelphia's most durable and complete corner. He works well in press coverage. Versatile Joselio Hanson, who can cover and blitz with equal proficiency, is the nickel back. Former starter Ellis Hobbs also gets some snaps. Harris, a fifth-round draft choice, has stepped in for Dawkins at free safety. Like his predecessor, he is a very aggressive run defender. Strong safety Quintin Mikell has good speed and range. Sean Jones is the dime back.

Special Teams

The Eagles have one of the best all-around return games in the league. Jackson is first in the conference and third in the NFL with a 14.5-yard punt return average - including an 85-yard touchdown. Hobbs averages 24.2 yards on 14 kickoff returns and has brought back three for touchdowns in his career. Three-time Pro Bowl kicker David Akers still has good leg strength and accuracy. He has hit 11 of 14 field goal attempts this season, with a long of 49. Punter (and holder) Sav Rocca is very good on pooch and directional kicks.